Truck side frame



Nov. 2, 1937. T. H. SYMINGTQN l 2,097,579

' TRUCK SIDE FRAME Filgd Jan. 18, 1952 3 sheets-sheet 1 ATTRNE'X,

Nov. 2, 1937. r. H. sYMlNG-roN TRUCK SIDE FRAME Filed Jan. 18, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tom nomadi?.

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A T TOR/ff )f Patented Nov. 2., 1937 TRUCK SIDEA FRAME Application January 18, 1932, Serial No. 587,334

13 Claims. (Cl. 10S-205) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEl The invention relates to railway car trucks, particularly to side frames, and has for itsv general object the provision of a novel and improved side frame having increased strength, rigidity and durability combined with minimum weight.

An important object of the invention is to provide a side frame in which the compression member in particular is of novel formation as regards the location and distribution of the metal so as to increase the strength and prevent the possibility of either outward or inward buckling of the bottom edges without relying upon any transverse ties such as are customarily provided, the compression memberbeing particularly provided with reinforcing beads on the vertical anges so that all the metal will be disposed at those points where it will have the maximum utility and advantage.

It is known that, theoretically considered, a perfect box section would be ideal in side frame construction owing to the fact that its neutral axis in both directions would be an equal distance from the extreme bers. However, it is not practical to build a side frame in this manner and such being the case'it has been discovered in accordance with this invention that substantially the same desirable results can beobtained by designing the compression member in such manner that a portion of the metal ordinarily constituting the web is omitted from the web and is applied instead to the exterior faces of the vertical anges in the form of a bead, thus practical ly providing two webs at the edges of the downwardly extending or vertical anges and one at the upperedge, this having the effect of bringing the neutral axis down as far as possible to accord with good foundry practice.

It is also known that there is another vital defect in present day designs of side frames. Column guides have a neutral axis and it has been the'belief of engineers that the neutral axes of the compression, tension and column guide members should intersect at a common point. It has been found that when the neutral axis of the compression member intersects the neutral axis line of the column guides high secondary stresses are set up in the web of the compression member immediately above the point of intersection. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a side frame in which the neutral axis lines of the inclined portions of the compression member and ofthe horizontal portion intersect in line with the webs of the column guides, this arrangement positively eliminating the secondary stresses on account of the eccentricity of the force lines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a side frame having a novel construction of the beam under the spring seat, the tension member having its web carried in toward the center of the frame and dying out on practically the center line of the beam, the arrangement being such as to distribute the tension by properly transmitting the forces and also providing a cantilever to prevent outward or inward buckling of the side walls of the spring seat beam.

Another object is to provide a side frame in which the spring seat beam continues beyond the inside line of the column guides and terminates in a curved heel which will transmit its reaction upwardly, there being moreover a knee brace connecting with the tension member above said heel for taking the reaction, the knee being substantially in alinement with the reaction force and being specically reinforced to withstand the strains.

Another object is to provide a side frame in which the compression member is of novel cross section and in which various joints between the component parts are of novel formation to insure proper distribution of the loads and forces so that the frame will be well capable of withstanding the hard usage to which trucks are subjected in modern railway practice.

An additional object is to provide a side frame which notwithstanding the above pointed out advantageous characteristics will be no more expensive or difiicult to construct than one .of ordinary pattern and which will in all respects be an improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to'be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section showing a side frame constructed in accordance with'the invention,

Figure'2 is a view half in top plan and half in bottom plan,

Figure 3 is a central vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a detail cross section through the journal box end of the frame, the View being taken on the line 4*-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the side of what is shown in Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating a portion of the journal box construction,

,Figure 'I is a detail cross section through the compression member, theview being taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1, 1

Figure 8 is a similar view through the tensio member, the view being taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a detail section taken longitudinally through one flange of the tension member,

Figure 10 is a cross section through one of the column guides taken on the line IU-II) of Figure l,

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through one vside of the compression member, the view being taken on the line, II-II of Figure 1,

Figure 12 is a detail section taken on-.the line I2-I2 of Figure 1,

Figure 13 is a detail section taken on the line I3-I3 of Figure 1 at the knee brace.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown a side frame comprising compression and tension members indicated as a Whole by the numerals Il and I5 joined at their ends to journal boxes I6 and connected near their centers by spaced column guides I1 which define the usual window opening I8 for the reception ofthe truck bolster and supporting springs therefor. The compression member includes downwardly diverging inclined portions I9 extending from a horizontal portion 20 which is located at the top of the window opening, and the tension members diverge upwardly from the bottom beam 2I which is located beneath the windowropening and which A carries or provides the spring seat 22.

The compression and tension members are both of channel section and are arranged with their open sides confronting and with their outer ends merging into the journal boxes, it being at once apparent that the frame is of the one piece cast type. The construction of the compression member is one of the most important features of the invention and, referring particularly to Figf ure 7, it will be seen that it includes a top web 23 and vertical sides 24 terminating at their lower edges in inwardly directed flanges 25 which die out adjacent the inner ones of the pairs of ribs 26 located on the roof of the journal box and merging into the juncture of the sides of the compression and tension members. The webs 21 of the column guides I1 extend clear up and merge into the'top web 23 of the compression member, the flanges 25 also joining the column guide web as clearly indicated in Figure 1. A distinctive feature in the construction of the compression member is the provision of outstanding beads 28 formed at the lower edges and in line with the inturned flanges 25, these beads extending from points adjacent 'the journal boxes throughout the length of the inclined portions I9 of the compression member and clear across the horizontal portion 20 above the window opening. This construction brings the neutral axis down as far as possible to meet good foundry practice. It will at once be apparent that by the peculiar construction aiforded by the inturned flanges andA the outwardly extending beads in alinement therewith the compression member will have I great strength and rigidity and will not be subject to either inward or outward buckling of its sides even under the most adverse conditions.

The tension member includes a bottom web 29 and sides 30, the latter having their edges terminating in inwardly directed flanges 3| which die out adjacent the ends of the inwardly directed anges 25 of the compression member at points above the upper inner edge of the journal box. For the sake of strength there are provided ribs 32 joining the inner face of the journal box with the web of the tension member for the purpose of transmitting lateral forces. There are also provided upwardly inclined braces 33 ribbed at their inner faces as shown at 34 and connecting the sides of the compression and tension members at points located somewhat inwardly with respect to the journal boxes. As the ends of the tension member approach the journal boxes the sides 30 thereof are preferably increased in thickness as clearly shown at 35 in Figure 9. Though the construction of the journal box itself does not form an essential part of the present invention yet at the same time the details are shown with suillcient particularity in Figures 4 and 6 to render a detailed description unnecessary.

'I'he construction of the beam beneath the window opening and connecting the inclined tension members I5 is another important feature of the invention and it will be observed by referring to Figure 3 that at its center this beam is of box''y like cross section, that is to say its sides 36 are connected by a transverse tie portion 31, note being taken of the fact that the metal is thickest at the corners where it is the most useful, the intermediate part of the tie being thinned down. Beyond theends of the tie 31 the beam sides 36 are j continued out beyond the column guides. and are formed at each side of the window opening with va curved heel portion 39 merging into the web of the tension member, the entire lower edge of each side 36 having an inwardly extending flange 39 in line with or continuing from the tie 31. The webs of the tension members extend down solid beyond their junctures with the heels 38, from which point on they are bifurcated at lll, the sides of the bifurcations merging into the sides 3G of the beam and dying out toward the center. At the very center of the sides 36 itis preferable to pro-4 vide holes 4I and at the center of the seat 22 it is preferable to provide a hole I I, these holes being for the purpose of permitting the escape of gas when the side frame is cast, it being known that if this gas were permitted to accumulate inthe cope side of the mold a spongy casting on the cope side would result. The seat portion 2 2 projects laterally beyond the beam sides 36 and for reinforcing purposes there are provided ribs 42 whichv merge into the underside of the seat portion and into the outer faces of the sides 36. -The lower edges of the beam sidles 3B are additionally strengthened by outwardly extending flanges 43 which die out at the heel portions 38.

An important feature in the construction of the spring supporting beam is the fact that the side Walls 36 thereof increase gradually in thickness toward the column guides at which locations the maximum thickness is attained. The reason for this is that the shear is maximum at this point and as webs are considered as being the members carrying shear loads it is important to provide ade..

quate'metal to withstand the strain.

The column guides I1 have their webs 21 merging into the top of the compression member as above stated and have their lower ends merging into the spring seat 22. Preferably the faces of these webs converge toward the outer side of the frame and in Figures 2 and 10 it is clearly shown that they are not parallel. Moreover these webs are formed with lateral extensions which project beyond the side frame at the inner face thereof for the purpose of providing increased bearing area for the truck bolster, not shown, in order to brace and strengthen the truck in the event that the usual spring plank be omitted. Under such circumstances these lateral extensions. are needed to insure the proper squaring action of the bolster with respect to the side frames. The column guides have sides 45 and 46 inasmuch as they are channel shaped in cross section, and merging into the sides 46 are marginal flanges 41 formed on the extensions 44. '.t'he brake hanger brackets 48 are located outwardly of the extensions 44 and are preferably braced by inclined ribs 49 which merge thereinto and straddle the outstanding rib 28 at one side of the compression member. To reduce the weight' the extensions 44 may have openings 5U therein. Extending transversely of each column guide and between the sides thereof is a transverse rib 5l and above and below the same the weight may be reduced by providing openings 52 and 53 in the webs 21. Though it is conceivable that the column guides might be of the same width throughout their height it is preferable that their intermediate portions be the widest with the sides tapering toward the compression and tension members as clearly indicated in Figure 3.

Owing to the non-parallel relation between the confronting faces of the column guides it will be clear that there is some diierence in the beam length at the opposite sides of the window opening and to compensate for this extra beam length on the inside edges of the spring seat the outwardly projecting bead or iiange 43 at the bottom edge of the inner side is preferably of slightly larger dimensions than the flange 43 at the outer side.

To take the reaction between the tension members I5 and the column guides i1, there are provided knee braces 54 which merge into the transverse member 5I and into the upper edges of the tension members, these knee braces having beaded or anged edges 55 which converge upwardly and which extend at substantially right angles to the tension members. The intersection of the knee braces with the tension members is above the points where the heels 38 on the beam intersect with or merge into the tension members and as a consequence these knee braces are substantially in alinement with the reaction force. The edges of the knee braces are naturally the points of highest stress but by providing them with the` beads or inwardly extending iianges 55 above mentioned they will have adequate stiffness to withstand whatever loads to which they are subjected.

The side frame constructed in accordance with this invention is of course used in the same manner as any other of the same general character though on account of the lateral extensions 44 which provide increased bearing area for the bolster it is particularly well adapted for employment as part of a plankless truck. One of the most important features is the cross sectional shape of the compression members which are provided throughout their length with the external ribs or beads which are in line with the inwardly directed anges at the open bottom. These beads in conjunction with the iianges provide metal where it is most needed instead of locating it in a different relation to the neutral axis. These ribs and flanges will coact and make the edge portions of the compression members so stift' that any inward or outward buckling will be prevented without the employment of any transverse ties at the open bottom` such as are commonly used.

Inaddition, the construction of the spring supporting beam and its connection with the tension members is such that this feature combinedwith the inclined knee braces will operate to transmit the stresses in the proper direction and distribute them so that any weakness .whatsoever at the juncturel of the column guides with the spring supporting beam and tension members will be avoided. Ample'provision has been made at all the critical points. to prevent concentration of strains and to insure their proper transmission from one component part of the frame to another. The frame has been designed with a view to lightness in addition to its strength and on account of the anticipation of any contingencies in service and the avoidance of sudden direction changes the frame should be capable of unusually satisfactory performance under the strictest tests. It is thought from the foregoing that the construction and advantages should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While there has been disclosed the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplifies.- tion of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A truck side frame comprising compression and tension members joined at their ends to journal boxes and connected by spaced column guides defining a window opening, the tension member being of channeled section and open at the top, the compression member being of channeled section and open at the bottom, the sides of the compression member being formed with inwardly directed iianges at its edges and being also formed with longitudinally extending exterior ribs. said ribs being in alinement with the anges and the ribs and flanges being continuous to adjacent the journal boxes, the tension member having inwardly extending iianges merging into said first named flanges, upwardly converging pairs of struts connecting the sides of the compression and tension members adjacent the journal boxes, and beads on the confronting faces of said pairs of struts merging into the top and bottom of the compression and tension members respectively.

2. A truck side frame comprising compression and tension members joined at their ends to journal boxes and connected by spaced column guides dening a window opening, the compression member being of channeled section and open at the bottom, the sides of the compression member being formed with inwardly directed flanges at its edges and being also formedl with longitudinally extending exterior ribs, said ribs extending across the top of the window opening and terminating adjacent the journal boxes, and the tension member having its sides increasing in thickness to points above the journal boxes.

continuous inwardly extending flanges and con tinuous outwardly extending beads, the beads extending from above the inner corner of one journal box to above the inner corner of the other, and said flanges being prolonged beyond the ends of said beads, and upwardly converging pairs of struts merging into the sides of the compression and tension members in flush relation thereto.

5. In a side frame, compression and tension members joined at their outer ends to journal boxes, a spring supporting beam connecting the lower ends of the tension members, spaced column guides connecting the compression and tenl sion members and defining a bolster receiving opening, the bolster engaging faces of the column guides diverging toward the center of the truck, and reinforcing means on the spring supporting beam compensating for the difference in the beam length resulting from the divergence of said faces of the column guides.

6. In a truck side frame, compression and tension members joined at their outer ends to journal boxes and connected intermediate their ends by spaced column guides dening a bolster receiving opening. the compression members being of channeled section and open at the bottom, the column guides having webs merging into the top of the compression members, the compression members being formed at the lower edges of their sides with inwardly directed flanges dying out above the upper inner edges of the journal boxes, said fianges intersecting the webs of the column guides, said compression members further having continuous outwardly extending beads at their open edges dying out adjacent the journal boxes, and said tension members having their upper sides open and having their inner faces provided with flanges at their edges merging into the outer ends of said rst named flanges.

7. In a truck side frame, compression and tension members joined at their outer ends to journal boxes and connected intermediate their ends by spaced column guides defining a bolster receiving opening, the compression membersbeing of channeled section and open at the bottom, the column guides having Webs merging into the top of the compression members, the compression members being formed at the lower edges of their sides with inwardly directed flanges dying out above the upper inner edges of the journal boxes, said flanges intersecting the webs of the colunm guides, said compression members further having continuous outwardly extending beads at their open edges dying out adjacent the journal boxes, and the tension members being of channeled section and open at the top and having their sides formed at the edges with inwardly directed anges dying out adjacent the ends of the anges on the compression members.

8. In a truck side frame, compression and tension members joined at their outer ends to journal boxes, spaced column guides connecting the compression and tension members and defining a bolster receiving opening, a spring supporting beam portionconnecting the lower ends of the tension members, said beam portion being of box section at its center and having its sides prolonged beyond the bolster receiving opening and terminating in curved heel portions merging into the tension members, the column guides having vertically straight inwardly diverging continuous faces and having their sides formed with inclined knee braces merging into the tension members above the intersection of said heel portions therewith.

9. In a truck side frame, compression and ten-y sion members joined at their outer ends to journal boxes, the tension members being of channel cross section with inwardly extending flanges at the upper edges of the sides, 'spaced column guides connecting the compression and tension members and defining a bolster receiving opening, a spring supporting beam portion connecting the lower ends of the tension members, said beam portion being of box section at its center and having its sides prolonged beyond the bolster receiving opening and terminating in curved heel portions merging into the tension members, the column guides including inclined knee braces merging into the tension members above the intersection of'said heel portions therewith, said knee braces having their outer edges arranged at substantially right angles to the tension members and formed with inwardly extending stiffening beads merging into said flanges, said braces having their sides formed with open portions.

10. A truck side frame comprising compression and tension members joined at their ends to journal boxes and connected by spaced column guides defining a window opening, the central portion of said column guide webs merging withA the web of said compression member, the sides of the compression members being formed with inwardly directed flanges at their lower edges merging into the webs of the column guides and being also formed with longitudinally outwardly extending flanges, both of said flanges being in alinement, said outwardly extending flanges extending in a continuous unbroken line from above the inner corner of one journal box to the other.

11. In a truck side frame, compression and tension members joined at their outer ends to journal boxes, spaced column guides connecting the compression and tension members and defining a bolster receiving opening, a spring supporting beam portion, said beam portion being of box section at its center and having its vertical sides of variable thickness and prolonged beyond the bolster receiving opening and terminating in curved heel portions merging into the tension members.

12. In a truck side frame, compression and tension members joined at their outer ends to journal boxes, spaced column guides connecting the compression and tension members and defining a bolster and spring receiving opening, the spring supporting beam portion connecting the lower ends of the tension member, said beam portion beingr of box section at its center, the bottom wall being thicker at the side walls than at its middle point, the side walls prolonged beyond the bolster receiving opening and terminating in curved heel portions merging into the tension members, the tension member being bifurcated at points inwardly of the intersection of said heel portions therewith, the sides of the bi` furcations merging into the sides of the beam portion and being substantially continuous across said sides and said bifurcated walls being located intermediate the top and bottom edges of said spring seat member.

13. In a. truck side frame, compression and tension members joined at their outer ends to journal boxes and connected by spaced column guides dening a bolster receiving opening, a spring supporting beam portion connecting the tension members and located beneath said opening, said beam portion having side walls increasing in thickness toward the column guides.-

. EDITH R. SYMINGTON,

THOMAS R. SYMINGTON.

Ezecutors of the Estate of Thomas H. Symnyton,

, Deceased. 

